Collegiate

Supplemental and Local Rules For San Luis Obispo Cal Ripken Baseball Collegiate Division

The following rules and regulations supplement, emphasize and where applicable, supersede the rules and regulations of any previous version of San Luis Obispo, Cal Ripken Baseball. Managers, coaches and umpires should familiarize themselves with this Supplement as well as the official handbook of Rules and Regulations supplied by Babe Ruth headquarters. The following rules are for our local regular season play. Tournament rules are governed by national rule book. The league will follow the official handbook except for the changes outlined in these Supplemental Rules. Violations of these rules may result in the forfeiture of the game or your good standing as a league or playing member.

Registration and Team Formation

Playing age will be determined by the player's age on April 30, 2017. All players will be required to register within their age-appropriate division.

Tryouts

There are no tryouts in the Collegiate Division; teams will be formed by the league with an emphasis on forming teams by school.

Teams and Rosters

Collegiate Division teams shall carry 10-11 players on the roster, unless the League Rep and President find it necessary to place a qualified player on a team because of any number of circumstances.

Game Play

Season:

Collegiate season will be broken down into thirds, with continual progressions from t-ball to machine pitch.

3 Games, 5 pitches from the machine are given and then batting tee is used (Machine set at TBD mph).

3 Games, 6 pitches from the machine are given and then batting tee is used (Machine set at TBD mph).

4 Games , 7 pitches from the machine are given and then batting tee is used (Machine set at TBD mph).

Games:

Game length is 3 innings or 1 hour. No new inning can begin following 1 hour from the start of the game. Scores will not be kept. If this machine is not operating correctly, the visitor team’s machine can be used or coaches may throw from one knee. It is advised that a bucket of balls be placed near the pitching machine as well as behind home plate to help gather the balls and keep the game moving.

Pitching

Machine Pitch: Players will be given five to seven pitches with the machine to put the ball in play. (If the machine is erratic and throws an unhittable pitch, the player may be given an extra pitch). If the batter fails to put the ball in play either by not swinging or swinging and missing, a batters tee will quickly be brought out to be used. Batters hitting off the batters tee will only advance 1 base after hitting the ball (max hit is a single when using the batting tee). There are NO strike outs in Collegiate Division.

If a batted ball hits the machine or ball bucket, it is an automatic base hit. All baserunners only advance one base if forced. A player will be positioned to play pitcher standing on either side of the machine. Outside of the 10 ft circle around the machine and on either side of the machine but under no exception will the fielder be allowed to play closer than the machine. If the machine is not operating correctly, coaches will pitch the remaining portion of the game in the same fashion as the machine, with a player positioned as pitcher on either side of the coach. There are no walks during machine pitch. The front base of the pitching machine will be set at TBD from the back corner of home plate. See speed settings under season section above.

Batting

An inning will last until the offense team has batted all of their players. Last batter must be announced prior to batting. If the last batter gets a hit, the inning will be over when an out is made at any base or if the ball is returned to the catcher and the catcher with ball in hand, steps on home plate preventing more runners from coming home. All players in uniform and physically fit to play will be placed in the line-up. There will be no bunting in Collegiate Division.

Base running

It is advised that baserunners move station to station (base to base). As the season progresses and when I child hits a hard ball that could be for extra bases, it is at the coaches discretion on allowing that child to continue running. Importance should be placed on proper game play vs having the kids constantly running around the bases. Headfirst sliding will not be allowed for any age division. There is no infield fly rule in Collegiate.

Fielding

Each team will field all players in the field. Catcher position is optional in Collegiate Division. When a ball is hit to the outfield, as soon as the ball is returned to the infield, the play is dead and all runners must stay at their base. The infield is defined by any part of the dirt. Members of the offense must vacate any space necessary to allow the defensive player to make a play on the ball. If fielder is interfered with, the ball is dead and all runners advance 1 base- exceptions to this rule are noted in ‘base running’. It is advised that coaches work with their infielders to ensure that their infielders are not standing in the base line as baserunners are running. Coaches are encouraged to discuss prior to the games if they would like to record real outs- where if I child is thrown or tagged out, they return to the dugout. Our advice would be as the season progresses, that real outs get recorded. The entire lineup will still bat each inning, even if 3 outs have been made.

Required Play Time

All players will play the entire game both on offense and defense. It is important for coaches to have fielding lineups ready to ensure that the down time between innings is quick and the game is moving along at a good pace.

Player Injuries and Sickness

If a player is injured during a scheduled practice or game the player agent must be notified immediately. If the player requires medical attention that player may not return to active play until notification of release is received from the doctor. This document will be presented to the player agent and approved before play resumes. A player must be able to occupy both offensive and defensive roles on the field to be eligible to play. For instance, a player may not exclusively play in the field and not occupy his spot in the batting order.

Re-Entry

Players may re-enter games defensively at any time, but bat in the same order as the start of the game.

Managers, Coaches, and Parents

Managers are selected by the President, Vice President Cal Ripken and the Cal Ripken League Rep. with input from outgoing managers, division reps and league member input. Managers of the San Luis Obispo Cal Ripken League have a tremendous responsibility. Your privilege requires many other responsibilities other than coaching. Your actions will have a direct effect on the success and failures of the league. Managers and coaches must conduct themselves with integrity when representing The San Luis Obispo Cal Ripken Baseball League. Managers and coaches should refrain from making negative comments, using vulgar language and demonstrating inappropriate behavior. Managers and coaches should treat everyone with respect at all times. Any behavior that does not follow these basic guidelines may result in the loss of your good standing with this organization and you may be asked to step down as a volunteer from the San Luis Obispo Cal Ripken Baseball League. Parents may also lose their “good sanding status” for improper behavior. Managers may be suspended from managing responsibilities by any board member. The said manager will continue to be removed from managing duties until the board can discuss and make a formal decision. The board can remove the manager if actions warrant removal. Managers should enlighten parents on all rules and the behavior guidelines set forth in this document. Parents will be held to the same standards as managers and coaches. Only managers may approach umpires and no other coaches, parents and players can question the umpires authority and decisions. Managers must let parents and relatives know that parking close to the baseball field can result in damage to their car and that our insurance does not cover the damage when a coach, parent, relative or guardian park where a foul ball has a chance to strike the car. Managers will also be asked to solicit sponsorship, sell and collect fundraiser ticket money, be asked to attend meetings, training, fingerprinting and perform after game field maintenance.

There will be no more than 2 coaches and 1 manager in the dugout or on the field during the game. In Collegiate, defensive coaches will stand behind the fielders and provide pre pitch and post pitch instruction to their players. Base coaches may only be adults. Managers will have no more than two minutes to have the defensive teams ready to play. Players will not stand in dugout opening. Players should either be seated or if standing, their feet shall be in contact with the ground behind the dugout fence. On deck batters may not start practice swinging until the previous bat has been put in the dugout and the next batter is in the batter’s box ready to hit. Only one on deck batter will be allowed out of the dugout at any one time. Only officially certified managers, certified coaches, one bat boy/girl (with protective helmet on at all times) and players in uniform shall be allowed in the dugout. Friends and siblings are not allowed in the dugout. This is an insurance regulation and managers need to make it known to the league of all said assistant coaches. No cell phone or tobacco use during games.

Practice

No team shall start practicing until insurance is in place and teams have been assigned.

Prior to “Opening Day” no manager or coach shall practice with any part of his or her team more than three times in a calendar week. During the regular season and playoffs, teams shall practice no more than two times in a calendar week.

Game Starting Times-Weekday

All weekday games will start at 5:00 or at umpire’s discretion. Leguina Field (Santa Rosa) games cannot start a new inning after 6:45 regardless of what time the game started or what inning it is in.

Special Ground Rules

There is no infield fly rule in Collegiate.

Fields and Equipment

Home team will be responsible bringing the pitching machine. Home team is also responsible for placing bases then removing bases and covering up pegs after the game. Home teams are asked to rake out heavily used areas and water if necessary. Bases and all league equipment should be stored in locked compartments. All equipment that has been place at a site should stay at that site and is not to be removed from that site. Each team is supplied with practice and game balls, batting helmets and complete catchers gear. The home team will supply two new game balls before each game. The game balls will be returned to the home team. All issued equipment including baseballs will be returned to the league immediately after your last game. Carts and tractors may have one adult driver. No more than one person is permitted on a tractor. Not more than two people are permitted in the golf cart. Drive Slow!! Under no circumstances are kids allowed to drive golf carts or league field equipment. Any broken or missing field equipment or team gear should be reported to the Boards Equipment manager. Any accident involving a possible insurance claim should be reported immediately to the President of the league.

Umpires

Coaches will serve as umpires in the Collegiate Division. The offensive coach running the pitching machine will serve as umpire and may ask for input from other coaches on close plays.

Concerns and Issues

Any parents or community members that would like to raise a concern with a coach or league representative should submit a written email complaint to sloyouthbaseball@gmail.com.

All issues will be reviewed by a three person subcommittee of the SLO Youth Baseball board, comprised of the President and the VP and representative from either Cal Ripken or Babe Ruth (depending on the league for which the concern relates).

External links are provided for reference purposes. San Luis Obispo Youth Baseball is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites.